Dispensing apparatus.



C. M. BREHM.

DISPENSIN G APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED 11,111.27, 1912.

1,046,957. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

CHARLIE M. BREHM, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification, of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed March 27, 1912. Serial No. 686,516.

fo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLIE M. BREHM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for dispensing, one at a time, bodies of substantially uniform size; in the embodiment illust-rated in the accompanying drawing it is especially adapted to dispensing cube loaf sugar. There are many places where such devices would be desirable, among which are lunch rooms. The present day sent-iment in favor of sanitation makes establishments where devices of this kind are used popular. Moreover, as the lumps of sugar are delivered one at a time7 the pract1ce of taking more sugar than is required is discouraged by the extra trouble it entails.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevat-ion of my apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with part of the receptacle removed; Fig. 3 is a plan with the receptacle removed; Fig. 4 is a view looking at the under side of the eject-or, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the base, showing the mechanism for rotating the ejector.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

l is the base, having an upwardly extending flange 2, and a central boss 3 of substantially the same height. The space between the flange and boss forms a circular race 4. A portion of the flange is cut away and a flange 5, extending tangentially from the boss to one end of the mutilated flange 2 forms a tangential outlet for the race at the edge of the base.

A shaft 6 is journaled in the base at the center of the boss 3, upon whose upper end is rigidly' secured a member which will be called the ejector. A number of pockets 7 are formed in the ejector, the pockets being open at the top, bottom and outside. The upper part of the pockets is preferably substantially circular, (see 7, Fig. 3) while up to a point quite close to the top of each pocket a portion of the ejector is cut away so that the rear wall ofthe pocket; z'. e., the portion which pushes the cube of sugar that has fallen into the pocket around the recess will be approximately parallel with a line drawn from the periphery of the pocket to the axis of the ejector. The outer end of the wall is curved slightly toward the direction from which ejector moves. The portion of the ejector not thus cut away forms a guard 7, the function of which will be presently explained.

A ratchet wheel 8 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 6, and above the wheel a lever 9 is mounted. The lever, having a slot 10, through which the shaft passes, is capable of longitudinal and rotary motion. A pin 11 secured to the lever engages the teeth of ratchet wheel. A holding pawl 12 is pivotally mounted where its end can engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel. One end of a spring 13 is attached to the pawl 9 and the other end to the pawl 12. This spring performs three functions: It holds the pawl in contact with the wheel, moves the lever longitudinally and keeps the pin 11 in contact with the wheel, and returns the lever to its home position after it has been actuated. The end of the lever extends through a slot in the base.

A receptacle 15, which may be of any suitable material, fits snugly around the flange 2 and encircles the ejector. An opening 16 is formed in the lower edge of the receptacle opposite the end of the race.

In operation the lever may be thrown to the right by the thumb, the foretinger of the operator resting against the stud 17. A cube of sugar, having fallen into a pocket, is carried around the race to where it engages the flange 5. The angle at which the cube engages the flange causes it to be camrned toward the edge of the base. This action is assisted by the rear wall of the pocket, which also tends to cam the cube outward. The guard 7a prevents cubes from falling down from above while another cube is being ejected.

It is understood that minor changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus without departing from the substance of my invention.

I claim:

l. A dispensing apparatus comprising a;

base having a race formed in its upper surface, said race being clrcularsave a tangential portion extending to the edge of the base; an ejector mounted to rotate above the race upon a vertical axis located in the center of the circular part of the race, said ejector having one or more pockets registering with the race, which pockets are open at the top, bottom and outside, andhaving a member which, coacting with one wall of the tangential portion of the race, ositively ejects the body contained inthe po et; a receptacle whose lower portion encircles the ejector and attaches to the base, said lower portion having an opening opposite the end of the race; and means for rotating the ejector.

2.`A dispensing apparatus comprising a base having a race formed in its upper ,surface, said race being circular save a tangential portion extending to the edge of the base; an ejector mounted to rotate above the race upon a vertical axis located in the center of the circular part of the race, said ejector having one or more pockets registering with the race, which pockets are open at the top, bottom and outside, the rear wall Yof each pocket being approximately parallel with a line Adrawn from the periphery of the pocket to the axis of the ejector, its-outer extremity curving slightly toward the direction from which the ejector moves; a receptacle whose lower portion encircles the ejector and attaches to the base, said portion having an opening opposite the end of the race; and means for rotating the ejector.

3. A dispensing apparatus comprising av base having a race formed in its upper surface, said race being circular save a tangential portion extending to the edgeof the base; an ejector mounted to rotate above the race upon a vertical axis located in the center of the circular part of the race, said ejector having one or more pockets registermg wlth the race', which pockets are open at the top, bottom and outside, the rear wall of each pocket being approximately parallel with a line drawn from the periphery ofthe pocket to the axis of the ejector, its outer extremity curving slightly toward the direction from which the ejector moves; a guard formed by a relatively thin member extending forward from the upper edge of the said rear wall; a receptaclewhose lower portion encircles the ejector and attaches to the base, said lower portion having an opening opposite the end of the race', and means forroi tating the ejector.

4. A dispensing apparatus comprising a base having a race formed in its upper surface, said race being circular save a tangential portion which extends to the edge of the base; a vertical shaft journaled in the base in the center of the circular part of the race; an ejector rigidly secured to the upper end of said shaft, having one or more pockets registering with the race, which pockets are open at the top, bottom and outside; a receptacle whose lower portion encircles the ejector and attaches to the base, said lower vportion having an opening opposite the end of the race; a ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft; and a lever adapted to-reciprocate upon a vertical axis, said lever having a pin which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and rotates the same a given distance each time the lever is reciprocated. Y

5. A dispensing apparatus comprising a ibase having a race formed in its upper surface, said racev being circular save a tangential portion which extends to the edge of the base; a vertical shaft journaled in the base in the center of the circular part of the race; an ejector rigidly secured to the u per end of the shaft, having one or more poc ets registering with the race, which pockets are open atthe top, bottom and outside; a receptacle whose lower portion encircles the ejector and attaches to the base, said lower portion having an opening opposite the end of the race; a ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft;a lever havin a longitudinal slot through which the sha passes, said lever having a pin to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel; a pawl pivotally attached to the base and engaging the teeth of the wheel; and a spring whose ends are attached to the lever and pawl respectively, the spring being so disposed that it holds the pawl against the wheel, moves the lever longitudinally and keeps the pin in contact with the ratchet wheel, and moves the lever in one direction on its axis.

- CHARLIE M. BREHM. Witnesses:

WlLLIAM E. THAYER, Cms. D. BnoNsoN. 

